Smoothie wheels

[Surfdaddy]

Has anyone bought wheels from Wheelsmith in Corona. I was looking in DRIVE mag and there seem to be a few wheel makers out there. I need to replace the split rim wheels on my 61 3/4 ton and want to run the stock hubcaps. I thought that I could use smoothie type wheel that would look close to stock. I need to replace them before I drive around too much and the tires fall off. I know this has been done about a thousand times but it's a first for me. After reading the thread on Stocton Wheel I thought I should find a place closer.

[onequickchevy]

My wheels came from Vision Wheels. They are Chevrolet Rallye's and they were absolutely cheap. They balance up perfect and came fully dressed with center cap and trim ring for about 300 a set. On a side note, holy cow that's a ton of wheel weights on the tire in your picture!!

[Surfdaddy]

The wheel weights are because it's a split rim wheel. I don't know if they make 8 lug ralley's, since my truck is 3/4 ton. I would really like to rechrome the hub caps and use them.

[Surfdaddy]

What can I do to replace the spilit rim wheels any suggestions? . Other than mag style wheels what options do I have?

[onequickchevy]

Bummer on the 8 lug, mine are 5 or 6 lug config only. How about a set of late model chevy or gmc? I'm with you though I like a steel wheel. You could have the center cut out put in a new wheel of your choice. I think stockton does this? Maybe someone else will chime in......

[Captainfab]

Are those split rims 16"? If so and if you want to be able to run those hub caps, you might have to have someone weld those centers into a 16" hoop. Do a search in the 'Projects and Builds' section for Aerotruck's build thread. He welded his wheel centers in newer 17" hoops himself. Of course that is something not everyone is capable of doing, but you can get an idea of what can be done. Sorry I can't help you with where to look for wheels. I would imagine someone will have a good place for you to check out.

Those hub caps would look cool sitting inside a little wider and newer rim.

[KruizerKing91]

later model 8 lug steel wheels that still have the outer center cap nipples should work. try the junk yard and just make sure not to grab a 16.5 wheel. and it doesnt necessarily have to be off of a gm. early dodge and for also shared the same 8 lug pattern

[7T2]

Originally Posted by KruizerKing91

later model 8 lug steel wheels that still have the outer center cap nipples should work. try the junk yard and just make sure not to grab a 16.5 wheel. and it doesnt necessarily have to be off of a gm. early dodge and for also shared the same 8 lug pattern

That won't work with those hubcaps. They use clips on the wheel to hold them on. I have been looking for some good stock wheels to run the same hubcap on, and they are scarce.

Wheel Vintiques just started producing wheels with the correct clips, but so far they only come in 5 on 4.5 and 5 on 4.75 bolt patterns. I am waiting for them to offer a 5 on 5 bolt pattern. 6 or 8 lug are probably even further off, if at all.

I can't even find old used wheels that work, because they are usually tapered in the back and don't fit over modern discs and drums.

This is what I am currently running, but it was a lot of fabrication work to do it, and I would still like to run stock wheels sometimes:



Here is the "how to" thread I did:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=244882

[Surfdaddy]

These wheels are 15". I called Smith wheel in Corona Ca. and they said the smoothie's are only offered in 5 or 6 lug. The only option they said was to go with there OEM wheel. I don't know if you can put a 16" rim on a 15" center but I'll call them to see if they can. The truck has 16.5's on the back and I had those on a 69 Ford truck years ago. The tire size is very limited and won't lend it's self to how I want to set up the truck. Bummer that this is harder than I thought I realy don't want to drive around with these cracked and scarry tires.

[Surfdaddy]

That was a cool way of getting the hub caps on those wheels. Looks great. However since I've got a 3/4 ton with 8 lug I couldn't see that they offer a wheel for me. I called Wheel Smith again and asked if they could take the centers off my stock wheels and put them on 16 or 15" rims. He said to meassure the center and he might be able to do 16" I may go with either (15 or 16) I'l just have to mess with tire size. I'm not going to put 8 or 10 ply tires on this since It will never have anything heavy in it again. Going to be as close to a custom as I can make it without cutting changing the basic layout of the truck.